Klopp signs new deal to keep him at Anfield till 2022

LONDON — Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp signed a six-year deal on Friday (July 8) keeping him at Anfield until 2022, just days after entering negotiations to stay on Merseyside for the long term. 

The deal is not only a four-year extension to his previous two-and-a-half year deal but also a record contract for a Liverpool manager — worth upwards of £42 million (S$73.4 million) over the next six years. 

More significantly, it signifies an extraordinary commitment from both sides to the ongoing rebuilding of the football club.

None of Klopp’s predecessors had the luxury of a deal of such length, which signifies the owners’ emphatic belief in the coach they recruited last October and their determination to stand by him over the forthcoming seasons.

Klopp’s assistants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz have also signed contract extensions covering the same period.

Said Klopp on Friday: “It’s hard to express in words how honoured myself, Zeljko and Peter feel by the commitment shown in us by the ownership and the club in general.

“We are very much at the beginning of our journey, but to already have the connection we have with this very special place is incredible.

“I am the first to recognise that with this great commitment comes a great responsibility. All of our coaching careers we have looked to make teams and clubs better, with the ultimate goal of making the supporters proud and happy.

“To do this, we have to make sure we always put player and team development at the heart of every major decision. 

“It is my job to lead that and ensure every element of the LFC football environment reflects the best practices in the game. It is fantastic that the club’s ownership is just as committed to this as we are.”

Liverpool have taken the decision first and foremost because they do not believe there is a manager who is more in tune with how the club should be run — or has more empathy for the ethos of Liverpool as a club and city.

Their owners have been craving stability since they bought the club in 2010 and are adamant Klopp is the man to deliver it.

They were aware attractive jobs would become available over the course of the next few years — the German national team could have a vacancy soon, for example — so wanted to act sooner rather than later to keep Klopp’s services. 

In a joint statement, the owners said of the German who led Liverpool to the League Cup final and Europa League finals: “When you have an individual of Jurgen’s quality in the building, it makes perfect sense to secure that person for the long term. To not do so would be irresponsible.

“The overriding motivation behind this decision is Jurgen’s commitment to overall improvement and development. 

“The ideas and plans he has for the football infrastructure excite us and we believe it benefits the organisation to have Jurgen committed to Liverpool for a sustained period, to make sure he is here to oversee this development. 

“By making this commitment to him, we are taking away any future distractions or doubt.  We will move forward in partnership together, with confidence in each other and with the club’s future at the forefront of every decision.

“He is a world-class managerial talent and his leadership will be critical to everything we hope to achieve in the years ahead.”

Liverpool have made four signings so far and expect to add at least two, possibly three, more before the start of the season. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH